R40

Before my buddy Rob suggested swapping cities to see Rush together I’d never really gone to shows outside of wherever home was. In 2015, Rob came to the Bay Area for a show at the SAP Center in San Jose, and then I joined him in Austin. That Austin show will always be a special one since it turned out to be the last time I saw the band play live — but also because (thanks to Greg), I got the meet and greet treatment with Alex and Geddy and watched my hometown heroes from front row center.

Today marks 9 years since that day, and perhaps because I’ve been back in Toronto this week, I got to thinking about those guys — Neil especially, of course. Even if Ged and Alex never perform together again, or play those songs in a different context in public, I’m thankful for the many times I saw them over the years and all the ways their music, musicianship, and thoughtfulness as humans has inspired me.